Project Team
design: Luchetti Krelle
water: Vestal Water
Photographer: Michael Wee
Suppliers
lighting: Ism Objects
custom wallpaper: Sparkk
custom fabric: Sparkk
Hello Kitty is a pop culture icon with millions of devoted fans around the world and Luchetti Krelle were given the opportunity to utilise the fun and frivolity of Hello Kitty in a unique dining experience. With a menu designed by Chur Burger’s Warren Turnbull, great food was always going to be a main focus and Luchetti Krelle knew the setting needed to be as well considered.
With such possibility of what a Hello Kitty Diner could look like their task was to go beyond any pre‐conceived ideas and make her and the diner’s experience uniquely Australian. Playing on an iconic American Diner theme the restaurant is focused around a central counter and an open kitchen. The booth seating and bar stools give further nods to the diner style. Re‐introducing Hello Kitty to the “Instagram” generation was key. Luchetti Krelle wanted to immerse the diners into a “lights‐camera‐action” world inspired by a live TV set with the Social Media public as their audience.
Hello Kitty’s cheeky energy inspired the colours, patterns and applied textures, and of course pink had to be a feature but Luchetti Krelle deliberately steered away from the cutesy. They wanted Hello Kitty to extend her hand and gain new followers. Luchetti Krelle wanted to make a space that all can enjoy; to appeal to both boys and girls, the young and the young at heart. Heroic crimson, subtle blues, bold turquoise contrast and neutral hues sit against the natural textures of concrete and timber.
Central to the design concept was developing a strong identity and building on the highly recognisable profile of the Hello Kitty brand. Luchetti Krelle worked closely with Tokyo based Hello Kitty creators Sanrio to create the logo and Hello Kitty’s face was incorporated into a stylised burger. The Sanrio collaboration extended from the Hello Kitty mascot statue greeting diners as they enter, to a series of Hello Kitty cartoon poses and kawaii icons that were incorporated into the custom wallpaper, fabrics and tableware.
Overall, the design concept combined classic and iconic elements with a modern twist, adding to the excitement and entertainment value of the Hello Kitty brand.